Buffalo Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka is entering the final year of his three-year deal signed prior to the 2017 season. Hauschka didn't get the nickname “Hausch-Money” for no reason. When healthy, he's arguably a top-five kicker in the NFL.
In the middle of the 2017 season, Hauschka set an NFL record with 13 consecutive 50+ yard field goals made—a record he had previously shared with guys like Robbie Gould and Justin Tucker.
Hauschka went 22-of-28 in 2018, which was his lowest percentage since becoming a full-time starter in the NFL. A big part of that was due to him being injured. It was never officially reported, but after Hauschka took a cheap shot at the end of the first half of the Bills’ home tilt against the New York Jets in early December. Hauschka walked off the field gingerly, but remained in the game. It was clear from that point on that he wasn't feeling right. He began leaving 40-yard field goals short, but he only missed two kicks prior to that point in the season.
Hauschka is a good kicker and parting ways from him would be a mistake. However, if the Bills do decide to move on from Hauschka, the money lost and gained is minimal.
Here are Hauschka’s salary cap details via Spotrac:
2019 cap hit: $3.25 million
Salary due: $2 million
Roster bonus: $250,000 due 3/17/19
Cap savings if cut before roster bonus: $2.25 million
Cap savings if cut after roster bonus: $2 million
Dead money if cut before roster bonus: $1 million
Dead money if cut after roster bonus: $1.25 million